By 1832, 20-year-old Dickens was employed as a newspaper reporter. As his writing skills developed, he began composing stories of his own. He even adopted a pseudonym and started writing under the name Boz. After he had some success with his early writing, Dickens pursued a career as a novelist (author). Around the same time, he also married Catherine Hogarth, his editor’s daughter.

Many of Dickens’ most well-known novels first appeared as monthly installments in magazines. Oliver Twist was one such story, running from 1837 to 1839. As many of Dickens’ writings did, Oliver Twist exposed(show) the evils of society. Years later, David Copperfield (1849-1850) and Great Expectations (1860-1861) also ran as magazine series. Both of these famous works are said to be largely autobiographical. Dickens’ bad childhood memories of working in a factory come to life in these stories.

Dickens’ life had its share of difficult times. But in the end, those experiences brought him great success as an author.

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[Ashley & Ken]

K: Hey, Ashley. What are you reading?

A: One of my childhood favorites, The Cat in the Hat, by Dr. Seuss.

K: Oh, that’s a great book. But why are you reading a childhood favorite when you are an adult now? Don’t you have any adulthood favorite?

A: (laugh) No, Ken. You can’t say adulthood favorite.

K: But you can say adulthood, right?

A: Yes, -hood is a suffix that means a particular state or period in someone’s life. So you can experience childhood as a child. You may even hear someone describe their boyhood.

K: Their boyhood? You mean the time in their life that they were a young boy?

A: Yes, and then there is girlhood as well. I could describe to you things I enjoyed in my girlhood. So it’s more colloquial to say childhood. Girlhood and boyhood are kind of old fashioned terms.

K: Hmm, what about brotherhood and sisterhood? I’ve heard these expressions used quite often. Do they refer to people who have brothers and sisters?

A: Well, they don’t have to be related to each other. For example, a group of women that are good friends might be a sisterhood. They are considered that because of the friendship and support they get from one another.

K: What about motherhood and fatherhood? Do they involve groups of people as well?

A: No, only in brother and sisterhood. Mother and fatherhood refers to the time in a person’s life that they experience being a parent.

K: So I’m experiencing fatherhood right now.

A: Yes. You are a dad, so you are enjoying your fatherhood.

K: Well, not when my son is throwing thing onto the floor, but yes, most of the time I enjoy being a dad.